Holding perpetrators to account

We have already introduced a number of new laws that will reform Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs), overhauled privacy laws, and the Sentencing Advisory Council is exploring options for swift and certain sentencing.

Further reforms will be made over coming years to ensure we have the strongest and most effective legal framework for holding perpetrators to account.

Law reforms

In March 2017, we introduced the Family Violence Protection Act Amendment Bill into Parliament to implement some of the Royal Commission’s law reforms. The changes in this Bill will make significant improvements to the system of:

Family Violence Safety Notices (FVSNs)

Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs)

the response of the justice system to family violence more broadly to maximise the safety of victims of family violence, including children.

We will also introduce legislation into Parliament in early 2018 which will provide greater safeguards to victims by increasing their ability to give evidence from a location outside the courtroom and more easily allow for them to apply for a FVIO online.

The reforms will also improve early intervention for adolescents who use family violence by allowing courts to make therapeutic treatment orders for children aged 15 to 17 displaying sexually abusive behaviours.